Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model to Modify Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Police Officers in Iran: A Quasi-experimental Study

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome among Police Officers in Kozhikode Corporation

Context

Police personnel constitute a special occupational group with exposure to stressful work environment indirectly resulting in a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MS), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle is reported among policemen. Surveillance activities are limited in the present scenario.

Aims

The present study was designed to measure the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risk factors among police officers in Kozhikode district and observe the trend over the last 10 years.

Settings and Design

The design was cross-sectional and spanned 630 policemen of Kozhikode Corporation in Kerala Methods and Material: Data collection was done using a pre-tested questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were carried out using standard techniques. MS was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

Statistical Analysis Used

Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 software. Prevalence of MS and cardiovascular risk factors were expressed as percentages (95% CI). Associated factors with MS were identified using Chi square test.

Results

MS was observed in 45.1% of the study population. Obesity and lack of physical activity were the commonest abnormalities. Cardiovascular risk factors identified were high body mass index (67.3%), lack of physical activity (47.1%), hypertension (16.7%), alcohol use (24.2%), smoking (17.3%) and diabetes (8.8%).

Conclusions

There is a rising prevalence (16.8% in 2012 to 45.1% in 2021) of Metabolic Syndrome among policemen in Calicut Corporation. All the cardio vascular risk factors are also highly prevalent among the policemen. Policy makers might seriously take up the issue and introduce effective policies that might help reduce the incidence of MS and other cardio vascular risk factors in the newly recruited young policemen.

Effect of educational intervention on risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among school teachers: a quasi-experimental study in a suburb of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

OBJECTIVE

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the effects of a health education intervention on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among school teachers.

METHODS

The study, conducted from August 2016 to May 2017, involved teachers from four schools in Baruipur, West Bengal, India. It was a multicentric, quasi-experimental study with an intervention group receiving tailored health education promoting lifestyle modifications, while the control group received no intervention. Baseline and endline assessments included behavioural and biological characteristics related to cardiovascular health and risk assessment. Data were analysed using JAMOVI.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed significant improvements in physical activity levels [Cohen's d (Cd): 0.43, p = 0.006] and the consumption of fruits and vegetables (Cd: 1.00, p = < 0.001). Notably, there was a considerable reduction in the consumption of salt (Cd: -0.93, p = 0.039), oil (Cd: -0.98, p = < 0.001), fast food (Cd: -0.99, p = < 0.001), junk food (Cd: -0.99, p = < 0.001), and red meat (Cd: -1.00, p = < 0.001) among participants. However, there were no significant improvements in biological characteristics within the intervention group. In contrast, the control group exhibited no significant changes in behavioural and biological characteristics compared to baseline. The intervention group showed a minor non-significant reduction (3.0%) in their 10-year cardiovascular risk compared to baseline (Cd: -1.00, p = 0.50), while the control group had a negligible non-significant increase (0.7%) in their cardiovascular risk (Cd: 1.00, p = 1.00).

CONCLUSION

Health education intervention positively influenced behavioural characteristics, such as physical activity and dietary habits, among school teachers. However, no significant improvements were observed in biological characteristics or cardiovascular risk factors.

The effect of educational intervention in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension with application of health belief model: A quasi-experimental study

Background

The best methods for preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases are preventive behaviours.

Aim

The purpose of the current study is to ascertain how educational intervention affects cardiovascular disease prevention.

Methods

The current investigation is a quasi-experimental study conducted in Shiraz, Iran, in the year 2022, focusing on 200 hypertension patients (by sample random sampling) that were divided into two groups: a control group consisting of 100 participants (63 males and 37 females) and an intervention group also consisting of 100 participants (58 males and 42 females). The data collection instrument comprises inquiries pertaining to demographic factors as well as constructs of the health belief model (HBM) and preventive behaviours for cardiovascular diseases. The participants in both groups completed the questionnaire prior to and three months after the intervention. The intervention group underwent a total of six training sessions, each lasting 55 min.

Results

The results showed that after the intervention, the intervention group showed a significant increase in all cues of the HBM model except for the perceived barriers. Following a period of three months subsequent to the educational intervention, the experimental group also exhibited a notable reduction in blood pressure in comparison to the control group.

Conclusion

The findings of the study indicate that the utilisation of the HBM demonstrated positive outcomes in facilitating the promotion of cardiovascular disease prevention among patients diagnosed with hypertension. The promotion of health among individuals with high blood pressure can be both beneficial and feasible. Moreover, this particular model can be utilised as a comprehensive framework for the development, execution, and evaluation of advantageous and effective healthcare initiatives.

Assessment of Compliance with Healthy Lifestyle Standards by the Instructional Staff of Higher Educational Institutions

Aim: To assess the quality of compliance with the standards of a healthy lifestyle by instructors of higher educational institutions with specific learning environment and their attitude to exercise. Materials and Methods: To achieve the aim of the research, we conducted a survey of instructors (n=126) of different age groups according to the questionnaire developed by the authors. The questionnaire is designed to investigate the current state of physical training with instructional staff; to clarify the issues of instructors’ healthy lifestyle; to study ways to improve their physical fitness. Results: It was found that only 10.3% of instructors regularly exercise in the morning; 85.7% get to the place of service by public transport or by car and only 14.3% go on foot. On weekends, 41.3% of instructors prefer passive types of motor activity and recreation; more than 50% smoke, in addition, 30.9% smoke one pack or more a day. On top of that, 46.8% of instructors do not engage in physical training at all; 50.9% of instructors answered that they attend training sessions in order to prepare for the test. Conclusions: It was found that the majority of instructors (67.1%) rarely or almost never follow the standards of a healthy lifestyle. Insufficient efficiency of the current system of physical training of instructional staff was identified and the reasons for insufficient level of physical fitness, health of instructors and systematic absence from physical training sessions were revealed.

Application of health education and promotion theory-based interventions on patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adopting healthy behaviors can lead to better outcomes which can deeply impact cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) development; consequently, tailoring appropriate theory-based interventions may improve various outcomes among patients at CV risks. This study aimed to assess published researches on the application of health education and promotion of intrapersonal and interpersonal theories/models' interventions on patients with CVD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this systematic review, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and SID, Magiran databases for English and Persian studies were searched using relevant keywords, respectively. We searched for interventional studies published with no time limits until the end of 2020 assessing the application of health education and promotion theories/models interventions on adult patients with CVDs. Two reviewers individually reviewed abstracts/full-text articles to assess inclusion according to predefined criteria. In case of discrepancy between the two researchers, a third expert was requested to assess papers, and final selection decision was made based on the agreement among the three evaluators. This systematic review was conducted using the following data extraction steps and assessing the quality of the studies and results.

RESULTS

From 60 articles, 35 studies met inclusion criteria. Most interventions improved at least some educational including models constructs (20%), clinical (14.2%), and practical (88.5%) outcome related to CVDs. It is noted that attention to educational, practical, and clinical outcomes was focused in published papers, respectively. Furthermore, based on the study categorization using models, some CVDs and theories/models were more concerned compared to others.

CONCLUSIONS

Health education and promotion theory-based interventions on patients with CVD appeared beneficial in the most published paper.